Bluetongue in Middlesbrough is very alarming for North East agriculture, say CLA

The news that Bluetongue Virus (BTV) has been detected in a cow on a farm near Middlesbrough is very concerning, according to Angus Collingwood-Cameron, CLA North East Director.

Mr Collingwood-Cameron said: "The presence of BTV in the North East is very worrying for everybody involved with livestock farming in the North East. The good news is that this has been detected through routine checks. The time of year, combined with the current temperatures does mean that it is very unlikely that the disease would have been spread.

"It is also good news that Defra appear to have taken the low risk of transmission into account in its response and not created new protection and surveillance zones. Further restrictions on the movement of livestock are the last thing that the North East livestock industry needs as it continues to struggle with the consequences of the movement restrictions put in place for this autumn's Foot and Mouth outbreak."